The North Face Summit L2 FuseForm Grid fleece 1/4 Zip Hoodie

Specs

Weight14 oz

Our take

The L2 FuseForm’s close fit, low weight, and best-in-test breathability let us focus on moving forward when chilly alpine starts turned into tough, sun-drenched ascents. The North Face’s FuseForm tech places lower-pile Polartec Power Grid in the upper torso, where you can overheat; sections of higher-pile fleece everywhere else are then joined with it in a seamless construction, which reduces weight. “Over a midweight baselayer it was all the insulation I needed starting out in the teens, but once I took off my shell, even light breezes kept me from overheating,” said one tester after a sunny, mid-30s ski tour in Alaska’s Chugach Range.

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The details

Polartec Hardface on the exterior helps additional layers slide on and off smoothly and resists damage from heavy packs and skis. Bonus: Thumb loops are comfy even under gloves.

Trail cred

“After a sweaty climb, a light breeze dried the L2 FuseForm quickly, warding off chills so I could enjoy the views of Prince William Sound,” our Alaska tester reports. thenorthface.com